Get Fit Nottingham Walkers Burn 2,126,604 Calories

Members of the Get Fit Nottingham urban walking group have collectively burned an astounding 2,126,604 calories since the group started in October 2016.

Get Fit Nottingham was started by local entrepreneur and fitness fanatic James Winsoar who had the idea to form an urban walking group when he got fed up of walking by himself.

Despite friends telling him that the idea wouldn’t work because people don’t like walking in urban areas, the first walk attracted 12 others, and since then the group has grown exponentially, now having over 1,200 registered members, and some walks attracting 50+ urban walkers.

The total distance walked collectively is now an astounding 8,086 miles. To put that figure into context, that’s further than the distance from Nottingham to Honolulu!

The total calorie burn is equivalent to 4,704 donuts, 7,471 slices of pizza, or 8,274 McDonald’s Big Macs.

“People find it increasingly challenging to eat as healthy as they might like to”, James Winsoar the group organiser said. “Firstly, many are confused about what is actually healthy because we are given so much conflicting advice, but generally people are so busy they often grab what’s convenient, and that isn’t always the healthiest option”.

“Whilst we can’t change food culture in the city, we can encourage people to exercise more of those calories off”, James said. “We are able to explore all over Nottingham on our group walks, including the challenging hills of Mapperley and Gedling, the impressive Park Estate, along the canal, and River Trent, as well as beautiful country parks such as Wollaton Park, Attenborough Nature Reserve, and Colwick”.

“We are very fortunate in Nottingham to have such an abundance of nature within a stones throw of the city centre”, said James, “and our statistics show we are making a dent in the obesity epidemic in Nottingham”.

In Nottingham 62.3% of the adult population are overweight or obese*, and 38.8% of children aged 10 to 11 are overweight or obese.

The cost to the NHS of obesity related disease is at least £27 billion a year**, but as well as the material cost there is also the pain and suffering of those effected and their families. Deaths from obesity related illness are largely preventable.

Get Fit Nottingham organises walks ranging from easy to difficult for all ranges of walking ability.